NZ's standalone APRC rally starts second decade

International Rally of Whangarei

Round 3, 2010 FIA AsiaPacific Rally Championship, 2-4 July, 2010

Media statement

1 July 2010

New Zealand’s standalone APRC rally starts second decade

This year’s International Rally of Whangarei represents a significant milestone in New Zealandrallying, with the 2010 event marking the start of the second decade of standalone FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship events in this country.

The prestigious Asia Pacific regional series dates back to 1988 when New Zealandmotorsport representatives, including the late Ron Frost and Morrie Chandler, lobbied the world governing body of motorsport, the Federation Internationale de L’Automobile or FIA, to create a rally championship for this region, similar to those being run in Europeat the time. The regional rally championships act as feeder series for the main World Rally Championship and the successful attainment of the goal to create an Asia Pacific series, including New Zealand, has played a key role in raising the profile of New Zealand rallying and Kiwi competitors on the world stage.

For the next twelve years the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship round in New Zealandwas Rally New Zealand, also a round of the World Rally Championship event. During this time, Kiwi rally hero Possum Bourne won the APRC title twice, Sweden’s Kenneth Eriksson three times and current APRC series leader Katsuhiko Taguchi once.

FIA regulations changed at that point and meant only standalone, non-WRC rallies could be part of the regional rally championships. In New Zealand, organisers utilised an established international-calibre event, the International Rally of Rotorua – the predecessor to the International Rally of Whangarei – and this event was run as part of the Asia Pacific series for the first time in 2000.

Current event chairman Willard Martin explains: “The requirement to have a rally specifically as the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship event created yet another opportunity for New Zealandcompetitors to pit themselves against international drivers. The Rotorua event organising committee was headed by well-known rally administrator Laurie Brenssell, from Hamilton, and with the support of other key motorsport organisers Graeme Robertson, Martin Fine and myself, the new event was a big success.”

A key feature of that first APRC International Rally of Rotorua was the infamous ‘Motu’, widely regarded as one of the world’s most challenging rally stages. Winding and twisting for over 47 km from the coast near Opotiki to the settlement of Motu high in the hills of the East Coast, the ‘Motu’ often proved a defining stage for competitors in the Rotorua event.

Palmerston North’s Bruce Herbert and Rob Ryan took the outright honours in that first standalone APRC event in Rotorua, while Bourne took out the APRC title for the third time that year. Herbert and Ryan went on to win the next three Rotorua events before Malaysia’s Karamjit Singh and Allen Oh became the first non-New Zealanders to win the APRC rally. Japanese driver and former Production World Rally Champion Toshi Arai took outright honours in 2005 before Kiwis Richard Mason and Sara Randall (now Mason) won the last APRC event in Rotorua.

“The forestry roads around Rotorua had been a mainstay of the rally route, but changes in forest ownership affected the event,” says Martin. “The opportunity to move the event to Whangarei offered us the chance to utilise what are regarded as some of the best rallying roads in the world. The support from the Whangarei and Kaipara councils and residents has also been a real highlight of the Whangarei event.”

The first APRC rally in Whangarei ran in 2007 with Geraldine’s then 20-year-old Hayden Paddon becoming the youngest ever winner of an APRC event. Christchurch’s Chris West took out the 2008 event with Paddon taking a second Whangarei win in 2009. 

“The 2010 event marks the start of the second decade of these standalone APRC events in New Zealandand, more than ever, the calibre and numbers of competitors highlights the event’s key role for regional and national rally championships,” says Martin.

The International Rally of Whangarei 2010 runs from Friday 2 July to Sunday 4 July on roads around the Whangarei and Kaipara regions. Competitors from eight countries, totalling 67, are entered. Full details can be found on the event website www.rallywhangarei.co.nz.

ENDS/

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